Pair charged in weekend beating death in Carson City

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The two men arrested after the Friday beating death of a 61-year-old man have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and battery causing substantial bodily harm.

Ruri de Santiago-Ortiz and Alfredo Santiago appeared in Carson Justice Court on Tuesday and were told they also face a charge of conspiracy in the death of Leon Arellano Pacheco. They were originally charged only with battery.

Involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another person.

Deputy District Attorney Troy Jordan said that, while each faces at least a $15,000 bail, neither will be going anywhere because federal immigration officials have placed holds on both men.

A preliminary hearing is set for April 28.

Pacheco was found unconscious and not breathing at the Stanton Arms apartments on Woodside about 8 p.m. He was taken by Care Flight to Renown hospital in Reno, where he was declared dead two hours later.

According to witnesses, Pacheco was arguing with someone in the parking lot when he tried to hit one of the men. He was hit with fists and a bottle, then punched and kicked as he lay on the ground.

Those witnesses and a tipster helped identify Santiago, 29, and Santiago-Ortiz, 27, and they were arrested by morning.

Santiago-Ortiz was appointed a public defender. An outside counsel will be named for Santiago to avoid any conflict when the two come to court.

If convicted, the two could face up to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and up to 10 years for the battery. The conspiracy count is a gross misdemeanor.